Allen Iverson Announces His Retirement (VIDEO)

Speaking openly, honestly and eloquently, Allen Iverson officially said goodbye to the NBA on Wednesday. The press conference was held in Philadelphia, the sight of AI’s greatest triumphs. Per the AP: “I always felt like it was cool being me,’ Iverson said. Iverson retired Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center, the site of so many of the moments he crafted into a Hall of Fame worthy career. Iverson led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA finals, won four scoring titles, clashed with former coach Larry Brown, and was an All-Star game fixture. Winning a championship is the lone void in a bio sheet that forever stamps him among the league’s greats. The undersized guard with the supersized heart was a perfect match in a city that prizes authenticity and hustle as much as production. ‘I’m going to always be a Sixer til I die,’ he said. And his number will always hang in the rafters. Iverson’s No. 3 will be retired on March 1 against Washington. The 38-year-old Iverson had not played an NBA game since Feb. 20, 2010, in his second, short-lived stint with the Sixers. The 6-foot, 165-pound guard also played for Denver, Detroit and Memphis over a 14-year career that has him 19th on the career scoring list with 24,368 points. He also played in Turkey before realizing the NBA doors would not open for him again. ‘I thought that once this day came, it would be basically a tragic day,’ Iverson said. ‘I never imagined the day coming, but I knew it would come. I feel proud and happy to say that I’m happy with my decision and I feel great.’”